Raptor Red

Written in 1995, Raptor Red by Robert T. Bakker is one of the first books I remember reading. It tells the story of a Utahraptor's life from her own perspective, with frequent extended tangents about the experiences of the various animals who share her environment.

Bakker aims describe these animals' internal worlds with a balance of empathy, realism, and drama. Although he takes some creative liberties, his fascination with the prehistoric world is clear on every page. It has everything you could possibly want - tragedy! Romance! Comedy! Adventure! A whole chapter about a small mammal having a blast eating some bugs! It's great.

Recommended for:

  • Dinosaur enjoyers
  • Natural science nerds
  • Fans of animal stories
  • People who like books that are good

The book was written for adults, but I believe it's appropriate for all ages. At only 250 pages in paperback, it's a nice quick read.

About the Author:

Robert T. Bakker and his mentor John Ostrom were the paleontologists responsible for starting the modern "dinosaur renaissance." The radical ideas they introduced throughout the last quarter of the 20th century, described by Bakker himself as "heretical," included the concept of dinosaurs as fast, warm-blooded creatures and the theory that modern birds are dinosaurs. Bakker also worked with concept artists to develop the look and behavior of the dinos in the first Jurassic Park movie.
(Read more about his theories and media influence on Wikipedia.)

Reviews:

"A captivating novel about animal life."
- Entertainment Weekly

"A bloody-minded Jane Austen character—bound by family ties, thoroughly responsible, yet longing for independence and love."
- Natural History magazine

"EEEEP!"
- Raptor Red

If you like my pitch, great news - you can experience it RIGHT NOW! Available in PDF and book on tape (with lots of 90s sound effects!) Go back to page 2 if you want to read the foreword.

PDF Reader

Audiobook